If LSU draft history repeats, look for 2021 national title, top draft classes in 2022, '23

LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron takes the field to play the UCF Knights at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 at State Farm Stadium.(Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic)

METAIRIE - Here is a prediction based on numbers.

LSU will win the national championship in football in the 2021 season.

Here are the numbers.

In 2001, LSU produced one of its worst NFL Draft classes in history with just three selections - offensive tackle Brandon Winey and quarterback Josh Booty in the sixth round and offensive tackle Louis Williams in the seventh.

The Tigers and second-year coach Nick Saban, though, were on the rise as they were coming off a turnaround season in Saban's first year in 2000 at 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference for second in the West following eight losing seasons in 11 years. It was LSU's first winning season since 1997.

Glenn Guilbeau(Photo: File photo)

Then in February of 2001, Saban signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation with such players as Southern Lab-Baton Rouge tight end Marcus Spears, who would move to defensive end, and wide receiver Michael Clayton of Christian Life in Baton Rouge.

LSU improved more in 2001 as it went 10-3 and won the SEC at 5-3. Five were picked in the 2002 NFL Draft. LSU dipped on the field that season, though, falling to 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the SEC.

But in 2003, another No. 1 recruiting class followed, and four players were picked in the draft. Then LSU won its first national championship in football since 1958 as the Tigers finished 13-1 and 7-1. Just two years after only three players went in the NFL Draft, LSU was No. 1.

There was a No. 2 recruiting class in 2004, and seven players were picked in the 2004 NFL Draft, including three in the first two rounds.

In 2005, LSU produced one of its worst NFL Draft classes in history with just three selections - Spears in the first round, cornerback Corey Webster in the second and cornerback Travis Daniels in the fourth.

LSU first-year coach Les Miles, though, jumped on a wave of talent as the 2003 and '04 classes were No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. And Miles inherited a program that was 22-4 and 13-3 over the previous two seasons. LSU finished 11-2 in 2005 and won the SEC West at 7-1, signed a No. 7 class in 2006 and put seven in the draft. The Tigers were better in the 2006 season, finishing 11-2 and 6-2 in the SEC for second in the West.

Miles signed a No. 4 class in 2007, and the Tigers dominated the first round of the draft with four going in the first 30 picks - quarterback JaMarcus Russell at No. 1, safety LaRon Landry at No. 6, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe at No. 23 and wide receiver Craig Davis at No. 30.

Then LSU won the national championship in the 2007 season at 12-2 and 6-2 - just two years after only three Tigers went in the NFL Draft.

Now, to what you have been waiting for.

In 2019, LSU produced one of its worst NFL Draft classes in history with just three selections - linebacker Devin White in the first round, cornerback Andreas "Greedy" Williams in the second and tight end Foster Moreau in the fourth. And just three others signed free agent contracts - tailback Nick Brossette with New England, defensive back John Battle with the New York Jets and guard Garrett Brumfield with Pittsburgh.

The Tigers and Coach Ed Orgeron, though, were on the rise as they were coming off a turnaround season in his second full year in 2018 at 10-3 and 5-3 in the SEC for second in the West. It was LSU's first 10-win season since 2013.

Then in February of 2019, Orgeron completed the signing of the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation with such players as Southern Lab-Baton Rouge guard Kardell Thomas and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. of Dunham in Baton Rouge.

LSU is expected to improve in 2019 upon its typical season of at least three losses, which has happened every year since 2012.

And LSU may have its first No. 1 signing class in 2020 since 2003 by Rivals.com. The Tigers are currently No. 1 in Rivals for that class as Orgeron just got a commitment from five-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett of Washington, D.C., to go with five-star cornerback Elias Ricks of Santa Ana, California, and eight four stars in a class of 13 so far. Max Johnson of Watkinsville, Georgia, and 6-foot-7 TJ Finley of Ponchatoula are the No. 7 and No. 9 pro style quarterbacks in the nation.

The players from that No. 3 class signed last December and February will be juniors in 2021, and the signees from the No. 1 or No. 2 class of 2020 will be sophomores.

It seems LSU has all the numbers adding up to a national title in the 2021 season with better draft classes before and after.